/ Source: Reuters
Toyota Motor Corp. said Monday that it will boost production of its Prius gas-electric hybrid sedan to meet heavy demand in the United States, where sales are expected to be 31 percent higher than originally forecast.
Toyota said it expects to sell 47,000 of the new Priuses in the United States annually, up from its original plan of 36,000 for the car, which was launched in mid-October.
The new Prius, powered by both a gasoline engine and an electric motor to boost fuel economy, has won strong sales and widespread praise. The car gets a combined 55 miles per gallon of gasoline, compared with 48 mpg for the previous Prius, which went on sale in the United States in 2000.